Horses weren’t always a part of Ashley’s life. Although she lived, breathed and dreamed about horses, she wouldn’t own one until 12 years old.
Unknowingly her parents, finally convinced to allow Ashley to take riding lessons at seven years old, spurred a fire inside her greater than ever before. Once a week lessons only grew her love for the equestrian lifestyle and with it an excitement towards learning , so much that it brought about counting down the days until the next lesson would come.
Although five years of english riding lessons started her journey as a rider, english lessons were not as easy to find when her family moved from Florida to Southwest Missouri. The change in location for her family brought about the opportunity to not only learn western riding, but for her to learn on her very own horse- if of course she did not complain too much about the move.
About The Bar Hi Ranch
Nestled on 90 acres in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, The Bar Hi Ranch calls Berryville, AR home.
Raising registered AQHA and APHA horses, we strive to achieve versatility through selecting for confirmation, disposition, and speed.
Before The Bar Hi Ranch
Answered Prayers
Trigger was the most beautiful horse she had ever seen and an answer to the prayers, hopes and dreams she had for as long as she could remember. Starting western lessons was new but created an opportunity to advance her horsemanship and developed a love for barrel racing. While Trigger was a wonderful partner, he was not a trained barrel horse. Through tears, frustration and perseverance, despite them both having to learn the sport together, he earned Ashley her first belt buckle.
Trigger lived to be 29 years old, won the 2014 PHBA World Champion (at 19 years old)and taught Ashley’s son to ride. He will forever hold a place in the heart of Ashley, Brandon and their family.
Never Outgrowing the Dream
Life continued onward, Ashley attended nursing school and was married her high school sweetheart. While their family grew, so did the number of horses they had on their small farm. Ashley began showing again, this time in both english and western all around classes, before her heart led her back to barrel racing.
Dreams Do Come True
As with all good dreams Ashley’s never wavered and only grew with the horses she owned fueling the fire. In 2015 they bought a 90-acre ranch that today, is the home of The Bar Hi Ranch. The ranch is the lifelong dream of Ashley Phillips, to own and run a successful breeding farm, made possible by the unwavering support by her husband and family.
“(Merry for Corona) was the epitome of what I envisioned in a stallion.”
- Ashley Phillips
Forever a Legacy
In 2017 another lifelong dream came true with the purchase of Merry For Corona. Ashley’s eye for horses is and always has been particular. Over the years she had laid a foundation for a successful breeding program through several hand-picked mares- and MFC was the centerpiece she had been missing. “He was the epitome of what I envisioned in a stallion.” - Ashley Phillips
Unfortunately, a freak accident in the pasture, paired with surgical complications, resulted in him being humanely euthanized in 2022- it wasn’t before he had made his impact with everyone who met him. His disposition and athleticism were unparalleled and are written in history through each of his offspring.
The loss of Merry For Corona will always be felt. He was a special horse to many, far beyond Ashley & the pastures of The Bar Hi Ranch.
While his absence is profound, his legacy lives on through The Bar Hi, his offspring, and the name he proudly leaves behind.
Ensuring His Legacy Lives On
Even in his absence, The Bar Hi’s mission to breed top tier performance horses has not wavered. The mares today are still hand selected by Ashley for the same traits that the ranch was founded on. Merry for Corona and The Bar Hi’s mares continue to grow their producer earnings spread across numerous events.